ScotFest marks 40th year of games

Annual festival expected to attract up to 80,000 people

A female Highland athlete tosses a sheaf up and behind her in competition at a previous ScotFest. (Walt Hester / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)

More than 80,000 people are expected to attend this year's 40th annual Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival, taking place Thursday through Friday at the Estes Park Event Complex.

The festival began 40 years ago as a gathering of four families for a picnic in the park. Today, the Festival has become an institution in Colorado, drawing huge crowds for a four-day festival featuring Jousting competitions, Highland games, musical acts, dance performances, dog show contests and Scottish and Irish food, drink and crafts. Unique to the festival is North America's largest Celtic parade attracting 40,000 spectators.

"As the founder of this event, it's been an honor to be a part of its growth and success over the last 40 years," said Dr. James Durward, festival founder. "I'd like to thank the dedicated team of volunteer and staff as well as the Estes Park community that pulls together each year to make the festival bigger and better. Before the festival, Estes Park essentially shut down for business the day after Labor Day weekend. Now, every September the festival brings more than 80,000 people into Estes Park. I look forward to seeing what the next 40 years bring."

Advertisement

The festival kicks off Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. with Tattoo Estes - a one-of-a-kind parade ground concert that features military and pipe bands. The inspiring music and pageantry of this year's program celebrates our heritage, history and patriotism. Performing under the lights this year are The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipe and Drum Band, Dartmouth Pipe and Drum Brand, U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard and Drill Team, U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Old Guard Fife and Drums, U.S. 1st Marine Division Band, Fountain City Bass Band, Band of Americas Few, The Broncos Stampede Drum Line and many more. Tattoo Estes will also take place on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.

World-class Jousters headline the festivities as they vie for the sport's largest purse in what is considered to be the "Super Bowl of Jousting." This competition features skill and accuracy events as well as the heavy armor competition. The Highland games showcase equally-talented athletes displaying amazing strength and vying for the U.S. and international pro and amateur championships in the caber toss, hammer and stone throw.

Each day of the festival, Estes Park's breathtaking mountains play backdrop to more than 1,000 Scottish, Irish and Welsh dancers while Celtic rock, folk and traditional bands liven up the clear nights. Those seeking a true glimpse into Celtic culture can top it all off by sampling traditional food and drink as well as browsing the wares of more than 100 importers and crafters of Celtic goods. Visitors can also check out their own families' genealogy by visiting the more than 70 Scottish family clan and society booths.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the festival fairgrounds will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In addition, Estes Celtic concerts will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings and many other activities will take place throughout the weekend. For more information and to order tickets, call 1-800-90-ESTES, visit ScotFest.com or go through TicketsWest at any King Soopers or Walgreens location.

Article Comments

We reserve the right to remove any comment that violates our ground rules, is spammy, NSFW, defamatory, rude, reckless to the community, etc.

We expect everyone to be respectful of other commenters. It's fine to have differences of opinion, but there's no need to act like a jerk.

Use your own words (don't copy and paste from elsewhere), be honest and don't pretend to be someone (or something) you're not.

Our commenting section is self-policing, so if you see a comment that violates our ground rules, flag it (mouse over to the far right of the commenter's name until you see the flag symbol and click that), then we'll review it.